Citytv news boss Hurlbut out

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TORONTO -- Canadian cable giant Rogers Communications said Wednesday that the head newsman at its newly acquired Citytv over-the-air stations is no longer with the company.

Leslie Sole, CEO of television at Toronto-based Rogers, in an internal memo to employees, said that Stephen Hurlbut, national vp news at Citytv's five TV stations in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg, "has left Rogers."

"Rogers remains very committed to local news at Citytv, and we will restructure management to reflect our commitment in an expeditious manner," Sole added.

The departure follows the pickup in June of the five City TV stations by Rogers for CAN$375 million ($360.5 million) from rival broadcaster CTVglobemedia.

Sole said that Citytv news director Tina Cortese will replace Hurlbut on an interim basis.

The decision to restructure the news operations at Citytv follows rival broadcaster CanWest Global coming under fire from its journalist union for plans to cut jobs at its Global and E! TV stations as it centralizes news gathering at broadcast centers in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto.

Executives at Rogers were not available for comment on Hurlbut's departure.